Sonny Dearth
03-09-2008, 12:56 AM
Golden night for BRD wrestlers
Tabb’s Andrew Williams wins his third Group AA title, leading four Bay Rivers competitors to gold medals. Poquoson finishes third in the team standings.
By MARTY O’BRIEN| 247-4963
SALEM — Andrew Williams looked like Rocky. He sported a knot on his forehead the size of a golf ball, an ugly red patch where his eyeball should’ve been white and an abrasion under his nose that bled during a match earlier in the day.
But a season’s worth of wounds couldn’t replace the smile that was his face’s centerpiece after the 130-pound final of the Group AA state wrestling tournament. Williams, a Tabb High junior, beat Grundy’s Ethan Owens 5-3 at the Salem Civic Center on Saturday to win his third state title.
While Williams positioned himself to become only the eighth wrestler in state history to win four individual titles, Poquoson High continued its return to prominence. The Islanders finished third for the second consecutive year, led by individual champions Kayton Marshall and Del Bryce.
Grafton 189-pounder Chase Ennis made it four victories in four finals appearances for Bay Rivers District wrestlers with a 5-3 win over Chris Bowyer of Jefferson Forest. Christiansburg won its seventh consecutive title, finishing ahead of 15-time champion Grundy.
Williams won in dramatic fashion, outscoring Owens 4-1 in the final 33 seconds to become the first Tabb wrestler to win three titles. He won as a freshman at 103 and last season at 119.
"The first title is still the best," he said. "This was more about the big picture, setting up the four-timer."
He survived two close calls to do so. He used a takedown in sudden-death overtime to beat Abingdon’s Aaron Wilson 8-6 to make the final.
And as the clock ticked down below 40 seconds in the title matchthird two-minute period of the final, Williams found himself on the short end of a 2-1 score.
Then, working from the bottom, Williams made it to his feet and hooked his arm behind Owens for a two-point reversal with 33 seconds left in the match. He clinched the title with a two-point near-pin in the final seconds.
"I wasn’t worried at all," Williams said. "I knew he’d be a tough kid, but I knew I’d get the score because I wanted it more. It’s all been worth it: The bloody eye, the big forehead and the cut-up nose. I’m not feeling any pain. It’s all adrenaline."
Wrestling passion has long been a way for folks in Poquoson to express town pride. That’s been true through 38 state tournaments that have produced nine team championships and dozens of individual titles. It was true even during the seven seasons following the 1999 state title, when the Islanders failed to finish in the top three.
Several hundred Bull Islanders invaded Salem for this year’s finals, a contingent recognizable by scores of black "Islander Nation" sweatshirts. They were in full voice during Marshall’s victory at 145 pounds and Bryce’s at 160.
Marshall, who hopes to become a psychologist, displayed his mental toughness by coming from behind to beat Louisa County’s Stephen MacCauley 8-2 in the final. Marshall fell behind 2-0 after being taken down to start the match, but he dominated after going ahead 5-2 with a reversal and near-pin late in the first period.
"Winning the state championship has been my main goal since losing in the (130) final two years ago," Marshall said. "It motivated me because I knew I never wanted to feel like that again."
Bryce did not want to repeat the way he felt when Poquoson lost in the state football semifinals last fall. Bryce, a linebacker, cried for three days.
He cried again Saturday after beating Derek Woody of Christiansburg 2-0 in the final, but they were tears of joy. He made a first-period takedown hold up by outhustling Woody the rest of the way.
"I wasn’t going to come out for wrestling because I’m going to play football at Hampden-Sydney next year," Bryce said. "But I’m extremely happy I did, because the team needed me and I needed them."
Grafton lacks the wrestling tradition of Poquoson or Tabb, but Ennis gained added to the Clippers’ legacy with the program’s second individual title. He broke a 2-all tie with a reversal in the final minute of the match. Like Marshall, he won after losing in his first trip to the state final.
"I can’t even describe how happy I am to finally get that off of my back," Ennis said of the previous loss. "It will be pretty cool to be up on the board at Grafton with (state champion) Denny Herndon and all of the other guys who will be up there in the future."
Mathews finished fifth in the Group A meet, won by Manassas Park. Mathews’ Alan Ward lost 9-7 to Carlos Ortiz in the 189-pound final.
AA STATE TOURNAMENT
At The Salem Civic Center (Saturday)
Team scores (top 5 and all BRD teams): 1. Christiansburg 161.5; 2. Grundy 129.5; 3. Poquoson 105; 4. Millbrook 98.5; William Byrd 59; ... 8. Tabb 51.5; T11. Lafayette 43; 14. Smithfield 42.5; 19. Grafton 37; 27. New Kent 20; T41. York 9; T56. Warhill 1; T59. Jamestown and Bruton 0.
Finals
130 — Andrew Williams (Tabb) d. Ethan Owens (Grundy) 5-3. 145 — Kayton Marshall (Poquoson) d. Stephen MacCauley (Louisa) 8-2. 160 — Del Bryce (Poquoson) d. Derek Woody (Christiansburg) 2-0. 189 — Chase Ennis (Grafton) d. Chris Bowyer (Jefferson Forest) 5-3.
Third-place matches
112 — Matt Fletcher (Sherando) d. Steffan Baker (Poquoson) 8-3. 119 — Cameron Hurd (Northside) d. Chad O’Donnell (Lafayette) 6-0. 130 — Marshall Robinson (Smithfield) d. Chris Morris (Skyline) 6-3. 152 — Chase McAdams (Poquoson) d. Brady Craft (Northside) 6-0. 171 — Willie Crawford (Fluvanna) d. Chris Collins (Smithfield) 6-4, OT. 189 — Joey Phillips (Blacksburg) p. Paul Bresnan (Tabb) 4:48. 215 — Brandon Beemer (Jefferson Forest) d. Shawn Sweaney (Lafayette) 3-2. 285 — Drew McCraw (Carroll County) d. Keith Person (Grafton) 3-1.
Fifth-place matches
112 — Matthew Graham (Smithfield) d. Randon Young (Orange) 10-6. 135 — Kevin Delawder (Fort Defiance) p. Luke Todd (New Kent) 2:42. 140 — Cody Silva (Poquoson) md. Jeremiah Marshall (Monticello) 13-4. 171 — Ryan Blanchard (Tabb) tf. Stuart Rose (Fort Defiance) 2:08.
Seventh-place matches
103 — Mikey Emana (New Kent) d. Ryan Bono (Millbrook) 9-6. 130 — Louis Shearer (Poquoson) tf. Owen Marshall (Salem) 4:16. 189 — Zak Stikeleather (York) d. John Reynolds (Courtland) 3-2. 285 — Chase Marley (Lafayette) d. Justin Fantazier (Marion) 5-4.
Selected matches
103 — Mikey Emana (New Kent) d. Hunter Western (Cave Spring) 10-4; Gage Swartz (James Wood) p. Mikey Emana (New Kent) 1:55. 112 — Matthew Graham (Smithfield) md. C.J. Cappozzi (Spotsylvania) 12-2; Jeff Meredith (Christensburg) d. Michael Pacella (Warhill) 3-0; Matthew Graham d. Alex Martinez (Harrisonburg) by default; Jeremy Hurley (Grundy) d. Steffan Baker (Poquoson) 4-2; Steffan Baker (Poquoson) d. Matthew Graham (Smithfield) 5-2. 119 — Chad O’Donnell (Lafayette) md. Zakk Moorman (William Byrd) 9-1; Chad O’Donnell (Lafayette) d. Justin Smith (Heritage of Lynchburg) 10-7. 125 — Cody Rife (Grundy) p. Colton Crabtree (Poquoson) 1:48.
130 — Marshall Robinson (Smithfield) md. James Emana (New Kent) 11-3; Louie Shearer (Poquoson) md. Bobby Shafer (Christiansburg) 9-0; Marshall Robinson (Smithfield ) d. Louis Shearer (Poquoson) 11-7; Marshall Robinson (Smithfield) d. Aaron Wilson (Abingdon) 10-9; Andrew Williams (Tabb) d. Aaron Wilson (Abingdon) 8-6. 135 — Jon Dotson (Grundy) d. Richie Gibson (York) 6-2; Bryce Kiser (Turner Ashby) md. Luke Todd (New Kent) 12-0; Evan Simmons (Richlands) d. Luke Todd (New Kent) 4-3. 140 — Randy Brannon (James Wood) p. Raymond Meeks (York) 1:41; Mike Wolterbeek (Millbrook) d. Cody Silva (Poquoson) 6-2; Randy Brannon (James Wood) d. Cody Silva (Poquoson) 7-5. 145 — Tyler Stevens (Loudoun) md. Ryan Milbourn (Smithfield) 16-2; Kayton Marshall (Poquoson) p. Scott Crane (Brentsville) 1:56.
152 — Chase McAdams (Poquoson) d. Tim Tsoqbayar (Lafayette) 4-3; Chase McAdams (Poquoson) d. Josh Schaffer (James Wood) 11-7, OT; Chase McAdams (Poquoson) d. Nick Bakos (Sherando) 12-7. 160 — Del Bryce (Poquoson) d. Antwon Hairston (Martinsville) 4-2. 171 — Matt Jones (King George) md. Bryan Tassara (Poquoson) 9-1; Ryan Blanchard (Tabb) d. Nick Groseclose (Marion) 11-5; Ryan Blanchard (Tabb) p. Matt Jones (King George) 2:27; Branden Carter (Christiansburg) p. Chris Collins (Smithfield) 5:53; Chris Collins (Smithfield) d. Ryan Blanchard (Tabb) 11-4.189 — Zak Stikeleather (York) p. Charles Curtis (Magna Vista) 2:24; Hunain Khawaja (Central) md. Zak Stikeleather (York) 12-4; Chase Ennis (Grafton) d. Joey Philips (Blacksburg) 5-4; Chris Bowyer (Jefferson Forest) p. Paul Bresnan (Tabb) 5:49; Paul Bresnan (Tabb) d. Zack Santolla (Lord Botetourt) 8-2.
215 — Shawn Sweaney (Lafayette) p. Morgan Owens (Grundy) 1:59; Shawn Sweaney (Lafayette) p. Blake Kierson (Powhatan) 1:27; Shawn Sweaney (Lafayette) p. Jon Weber (Christiansburg) 1:40. 285 — Chase Marley (Lafayette) d. Tim Rollins (Monticello) 4-3, OT; Hunter Manspile (Northside) d. Chase Marley (Lafayette) 6-0; Andrew Miller (Bassett) p. Keith Person (Grafton) :43; Keith Person (Grafton) d. Trey Dillon (Christiansburg) 1-0.
Tabb’s Andrew Williams wins his third Group AA title, leading four Bay Rivers competitors to gold medals. Poquoson finishes third in the team standings.
By MARTY O’BRIEN| 247-4963
SALEM — Andrew Williams looked like Rocky. He sported a knot on his forehead the size of a golf ball, an ugly red patch where his eyeball should’ve been white and an abrasion under his nose that bled during a match earlier in the day.
But a season’s worth of wounds couldn’t replace the smile that was his face’s centerpiece after the 130-pound final of the Group AA state wrestling tournament. Williams, a Tabb High junior, beat Grundy’s Ethan Owens 5-3 at the Salem Civic Center on Saturday to win his third state title.
While Williams positioned himself to become only the eighth wrestler in state history to win four individual titles, Poquoson High continued its return to prominence. The Islanders finished third for the second consecutive year, led by individual champions Kayton Marshall and Del Bryce.
Grafton 189-pounder Chase Ennis made it four victories in four finals appearances for Bay Rivers District wrestlers with a 5-3 win over Chris Bowyer of Jefferson Forest. Christiansburg won its seventh consecutive title, finishing ahead of 15-time champion Grundy.
Williams won in dramatic fashion, outscoring Owens 4-1 in the final 33 seconds to become the first Tabb wrestler to win three titles. He won as a freshman at 103 and last season at 119.
"The first title is still the best," he said. "This was more about the big picture, setting up the four-timer."
He survived two close calls to do so. He used a takedown in sudden-death overtime to beat Abingdon’s Aaron Wilson 8-6 to make the final.
And as the clock ticked down below 40 seconds in the title matchthird two-minute period of the final, Williams found himself on the short end of a 2-1 score.
Then, working from the bottom, Williams made it to his feet and hooked his arm behind Owens for a two-point reversal with 33 seconds left in the match. He clinched the title with a two-point near-pin in the final seconds.
"I wasn’t worried at all," Williams said. "I knew he’d be a tough kid, but I knew I’d get the score because I wanted it more. It’s all been worth it: The bloody eye, the big forehead and the cut-up nose. I’m not feeling any pain. It’s all adrenaline."
Wrestling passion has long been a way for folks in Poquoson to express town pride. That’s been true through 38 state tournaments that have produced nine team championships and dozens of individual titles. It was true even during the seven seasons following the 1999 state title, when the Islanders failed to finish in the top three.
Several hundred Bull Islanders invaded Salem for this year’s finals, a contingent recognizable by scores of black "Islander Nation" sweatshirts. They were in full voice during Marshall’s victory at 145 pounds and Bryce’s at 160.
Marshall, who hopes to become a psychologist, displayed his mental toughness by coming from behind to beat Louisa County’s Stephen MacCauley 8-2 in the final. Marshall fell behind 2-0 after being taken down to start the match, but he dominated after going ahead 5-2 with a reversal and near-pin late in the first period.
"Winning the state championship has been my main goal since losing in the (130) final two years ago," Marshall said. "It motivated me because I knew I never wanted to feel like that again."
Bryce did not want to repeat the way he felt when Poquoson lost in the state football semifinals last fall. Bryce, a linebacker, cried for three days.
He cried again Saturday after beating Derek Woody of Christiansburg 2-0 in the final, but they were tears of joy. He made a first-period takedown hold up by outhustling Woody the rest of the way.
"I wasn’t going to come out for wrestling because I’m going to play football at Hampden-Sydney next year," Bryce said. "But I’m extremely happy I did, because the team needed me and I needed them."
Grafton lacks the wrestling tradition of Poquoson or Tabb, but Ennis gained added to the Clippers’ legacy with the program’s second individual title. He broke a 2-all tie with a reversal in the final minute of the match. Like Marshall, he won after losing in his first trip to the state final.
"I can’t even describe how happy I am to finally get that off of my back," Ennis said of the previous loss. "It will be pretty cool to be up on the board at Grafton with (state champion) Denny Herndon and all of the other guys who will be up there in the future."
Mathews finished fifth in the Group A meet, won by Manassas Park. Mathews’ Alan Ward lost 9-7 to Carlos Ortiz in the 189-pound final.
AA STATE TOURNAMENT
At The Salem Civic Center (Saturday)
Team scores (top 5 and all BRD teams): 1. Christiansburg 161.5; 2. Grundy 129.5; 3. Poquoson 105; 4. Millbrook 98.5; William Byrd 59; ... 8. Tabb 51.5; T11. Lafayette 43; 14. Smithfield 42.5; 19. Grafton 37; 27. New Kent 20; T41. York 9; T56. Warhill 1; T59. Jamestown and Bruton 0.
Finals
130 — Andrew Williams (Tabb) d. Ethan Owens (Grundy) 5-3. 145 — Kayton Marshall (Poquoson) d. Stephen MacCauley (Louisa) 8-2. 160 — Del Bryce (Poquoson) d. Derek Woody (Christiansburg) 2-0. 189 — Chase Ennis (Grafton) d. Chris Bowyer (Jefferson Forest) 5-3.
Third-place matches
112 — Matt Fletcher (Sherando) d. Steffan Baker (Poquoson) 8-3. 119 — Cameron Hurd (Northside) d. Chad O’Donnell (Lafayette) 6-0. 130 — Marshall Robinson (Smithfield) d. Chris Morris (Skyline) 6-3. 152 — Chase McAdams (Poquoson) d. Brady Craft (Northside) 6-0. 171 — Willie Crawford (Fluvanna) d. Chris Collins (Smithfield) 6-4, OT. 189 — Joey Phillips (Blacksburg) p. Paul Bresnan (Tabb) 4:48. 215 — Brandon Beemer (Jefferson Forest) d. Shawn Sweaney (Lafayette) 3-2. 285 — Drew McCraw (Carroll County) d. Keith Person (Grafton) 3-1.
Fifth-place matches
112 — Matthew Graham (Smithfield) d. Randon Young (Orange) 10-6. 135 — Kevin Delawder (Fort Defiance) p. Luke Todd (New Kent) 2:42. 140 — Cody Silva (Poquoson) md. Jeremiah Marshall (Monticello) 13-4. 171 — Ryan Blanchard (Tabb) tf. Stuart Rose (Fort Defiance) 2:08.
Seventh-place matches
103 — Mikey Emana (New Kent) d. Ryan Bono (Millbrook) 9-6. 130 — Louis Shearer (Poquoson) tf. Owen Marshall (Salem) 4:16. 189 — Zak Stikeleather (York) d. John Reynolds (Courtland) 3-2. 285 — Chase Marley (Lafayette) d. Justin Fantazier (Marion) 5-4.
Selected matches
103 — Mikey Emana (New Kent) d. Hunter Western (Cave Spring) 10-4; Gage Swartz (James Wood) p. Mikey Emana (New Kent) 1:55. 112 — Matthew Graham (Smithfield) md. C.J. Cappozzi (Spotsylvania) 12-2; Jeff Meredith (Christensburg) d. Michael Pacella (Warhill) 3-0; Matthew Graham d. Alex Martinez (Harrisonburg) by default; Jeremy Hurley (Grundy) d. Steffan Baker (Poquoson) 4-2; Steffan Baker (Poquoson) d. Matthew Graham (Smithfield) 5-2. 119 — Chad O’Donnell (Lafayette) md. Zakk Moorman (William Byrd) 9-1; Chad O’Donnell (Lafayette) d. Justin Smith (Heritage of Lynchburg) 10-7. 125 — Cody Rife (Grundy) p. Colton Crabtree (Poquoson) 1:48.
130 — Marshall Robinson (Smithfield) md. James Emana (New Kent) 11-3; Louie Shearer (Poquoson) md. Bobby Shafer (Christiansburg) 9-0; Marshall Robinson (Smithfield ) d. Louis Shearer (Poquoson) 11-7; Marshall Robinson (Smithfield) d. Aaron Wilson (Abingdon) 10-9; Andrew Williams (Tabb) d. Aaron Wilson (Abingdon) 8-6. 135 — Jon Dotson (Grundy) d. Richie Gibson (York) 6-2; Bryce Kiser (Turner Ashby) md. Luke Todd (New Kent) 12-0; Evan Simmons (Richlands) d. Luke Todd (New Kent) 4-3. 140 — Randy Brannon (James Wood) p. Raymond Meeks (York) 1:41; Mike Wolterbeek (Millbrook) d. Cody Silva (Poquoson) 6-2; Randy Brannon (James Wood) d. Cody Silva (Poquoson) 7-5. 145 — Tyler Stevens (Loudoun) md. Ryan Milbourn (Smithfield) 16-2; Kayton Marshall (Poquoson) p. Scott Crane (Brentsville) 1:56.
152 — Chase McAdams (Poquoson) d. Tim Tsoqbayar (Lafayette) 4-3; Chase McAdams (Poquoson) d. Josh Schaffer (James Wood) 11-7, OT; Chase McAdams (Poquoson) d. Nick Bakos (Sherando) 12-7. 160 — Del Bryce (Poquoson) d. Antwon Hairston (Martinsville) 4-2. 171 — Matt Jones (King George) md. Bryan Tassara (Poquoson) 9-1; Ryan Blanchard (Tabb) d. Nick Groseclose (Marion) 11-5; Ryan Blanchard (Tabb) p. Matt Jones (King George) 2:27; Branden Carter (Christiansburg) p. Chris Collins (Smithfield) 5:53; Chris Collins (Smithfield) d. Ryan Blanchard (Tabb) 11-4.189 — Zak Stikeleather (York) p. Charles Curtis (Magna Vista) 2:24; Hunain Khawaja (Central) md. Zak Stikeleather (York) 12-4; Chase Ennis (Grafton) d. Joey Philips (Blacksburg) 5-4; Chris Bowyer (Jefferson Forest) p. Paul Bresnan (Tabb) 5:49; Paul Bresnan (Tabb) d. Zack Santolla (Lord Botetourt) 8-2.
215 — Shawn Sweaney (Lafayette) p. Morgan Owens (Grundy) 1:59; Shawn Sweaney (Lafayette) p. Blake Kierson (Powhatan) 1:27; Shawn Sweaney (Lafayette) p. Jon Weber (Christiansburg) 1:40. 285 — Chase Marley (Lafayette) d. Tim Rollins (Monticello) 4-3, OT; Hunter Manspile (Northside) d. Chase Marley (Lafayette) 6-0; Andrew Miller (Bassett) p. Keith Person (Grafton) :43; Keith Person (Grafton) d. Trey Dillon (Christiansburg) 1-0.